Pioneer Day is a Hit!

While The Village People certianly had a few hits in the 70's, there is a new group of village people producing hits these days! I'm referring to the Friends of Lincoln Pioneer Village, whose Pioneer Days event Saturday was definately a hit with the crowd. There were lots of opportunities to take part in hands on demonstrations of frontier life skills. From candle making to sheering sheep there were activities for all ages to enjoy! About 100 people attended the event, where a carving of Abraham Lincoln was unveiled as well.

Lincoln Statue Dedicated

This lifesize chainsaw carving of Abraham Lincoln was unveiled Saturday at Lincoln State Park. The Friends of Lincoln State Park group commissioned the work by local chainsaw artist Willy Loper of Grandview. From left are LSP Friends President Dan Wilkinson, and LSP Friends members Shirley Begle, Bonnie Hohl, and Linda Wilkinson. The statue, which commemorates the upcoming Lincoln Bicentennial, is made from a sycamore log. It features a young Lincoln holding an ax in one hand and a law book in the other.

Mother's Day Field Trip

You can make this Mother's Day a learning opportunity!

Sunday, May 11, bring your children to Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home in Spencer County and share with them the story of how a pioneer boy named Abraham Lincoln grew into America's Greatest President.

Lincoln often credited his mother, Nancy Hanks, and stepmother, Sarah Bush Johnston, for helping shape his character and foster his love of learning. He once said, "All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother."

This special Mother's Day ceremony will honor the women who had an impact on Lincoln's life and today's mothers as well. It will include musical performances, a drama using Lincoln's own words about life on the Indiana frontier, and a wreath laying ceremony by area children. Gov. Mitch Daniels and Congressman Baron Hill also will speak.

After the ceremony, families can tour the Living Historical Farm at the site where Lincoln lived from age 7 to 21. With the help of the farm's interpreters, you can milk a cow, feed the sheep, or help with the garden.

For free tickets to this event, call 888-444-9252 or email tourism@psci.net.

Extreme Makeover for Huffman Mill Bridge

Indiana is well known for its covered bridges, but many people may not know there is a historic covered bridge right here in Spencer County.

The Huffman Mill covered bridge, located at the Spencer & Perry County line, was selected last week for a $240,000 restoration grant. The funding, announced by Congressman Baron Hill's office, is provided through the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program of the Federal Highway Administration.

Spanning the Anderson River in Eastern Spencer County, the Huffman Mill bridge was built during the Civil War in 1864. According to local legend, Abraham Lincoln and his father took their grain to be ground into flour at Huffman Mill. However, the bridge wasn't built there until long after the Lincoln family left Indiana.

A current view of the bridge is shown at right, but we can't wait to see it all fixed up!

If you're interested in visiting this bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, it's located off State Highway 545 on County Road 1300.